American Antiquarian Society, Research library and historical society in Worcester, Massachusetts
The American Antiquarian Society is a research library and historical archive in Worcester housing more than 4 million items such as books, pamphlets, newspapers, and manuscripts from early American times. The collection spans printed materials and handwritten documents that capture American life from its colonial beginnings through the 19th century.
The organization was founded in 1812 with the mission to preserve sources from early American history. It received the National Humanities Medal in 2013 for its work safeguarding American historical documents and making them accessible for research.
The library holds materials that show how Americans lived, worked, and communicated before 1876, including rare printed works and personal documents from colonial times. Visitors can explore how ordinary people recorded their daily lives through letters, diaries, and printed materials from this period.
Bring two forms of identification when visiting if you plan to use the reading room, as staff will need to verify your credentials before access. Materials are delivered by staff to your designated workspace, making it easy to examine items at your own pace.
The collection contains the most complete set of newspapers published in America through 1876, with original copies spanning from colonial times to the Reconstruction era. These newspapers reveal how Americans received news and stayed informed about their world during this formative period.
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